“Melanie is sick with the worst kind of bug. Feels like I’ve been hit by a car and now lying in hospital with the pain killers wearing off.”
My Facebook status generated quite an outpour of sympathy and get well greetings including some therapeutic advice from yogis—friends and teachers alike. One of them, Maritoni Tordesillas, suggested that I get a dzi bracelet from World of Feng Shui as it had quite a curative effect on her when she was struck by a similarly spiteful virus last year.
Dzi (pronounced Zee) is a Tibetan word for a patterned stone, usually agate, of mainly oblong, round, cylindrical or tabular shape pierced lengthwise called Heaven's Bead (tian zhu) in Chinese. I had seen these beads during a working trip to Nepal when colleagues of mine from the ADB had acquired some and I have since been fascinated and intrigued by their talismanic “powers”. Dzi stones are said to do a number of things basically some protect its wearer from negative energies or accidents, some attract wealth or wisdom, while others might bring love and happiness.
The beads originate in Tibetan culture and are rare and pricey. Found mainly in Tibet as well as in Bhutan, Ladakh and Sikkim, dzi are obtained from the earth and so to the Tibetan, the Dzi is not a man-made bead, but a precious jewel of supernatural origin.
The beads originate in Tibetan culture and are rare and pricey. Found mainly in Tibet as well as in Bhutan, Ladakh and Sikkim, dzi are obtained from the earth and so to the Tibetan, the Dzi is not a man-made bead, but a precious jewel of supernatural origin.
Knowledge of the bead is derived from mythological and legendary tales and few beads have stirred more controversy regarding their source and method of manufacture which all helps in increasing dzi's inherent value.
The Potala Palace (above) located in Lhasa Tibet Autonomous Region China, had been the Dalai Lama's domain until 1959 when the 14th Dalai Lama escaped to Dharamsala, India after a failed uprising. The Dalai Lama and many Tibetans fled during the Chinese communists invasion. They took much valuable jewelry with them, such as coral, amber, turquoise and the mysterious dzi beads. At this point, the world first glimpsed this precious jewel from the Land of Snow when refugees sold them in exchange for their material needs.
After reading up some more I learned that a Dzi stone may repel things, but it can also store them. Your stone may block or absorb negativism when it comes your way for instance. They can also release very positive energies to you, while absorbing a bit of your energy in the process. In other words, a bit of them goes into you and a bit of you will go into them. However since you are not the original possessor of the stone, some of the previous owner’s bad kharma may rub off on you. To avoid this it is recommended to "cleanse" your Dzi stone upon purchase to release all of that stored up nastiness, and to allow you to introduce yourself to your Dzi stone, and create a fresh spiritual bond.
Fake dzi stones abound but you can purchase a genuine dzi locally at World of Feng Shui which has branches in SM malls. The sellers will help you select your stone, there are beads with from 1 to 21 eyes, each with a special significance or purpose. Maritoni chose the 9-eye bead for good health because she believes "health is wealth". Indeed!
1. The 1 eyed Dzi bead stands for a beacon of light and hope. This powerful eye is believed to enhance human wisdom, and bring forth happiness for life.
2. The 2 eyed Dzi enables harmony between husband and wife; build a happy family, successful career, and good relationships with others.
3. The 3 eyed Dzi bead represents the three stars of luck, happiness, honor, and longevity. It is the bead of wealth and health to bring continuous fortune.
4. The 4 eyed Dzi helps To Overcome Negative Forces, Clears Obstacles, Increases Merits & Longevity, Subdue Demons.
5. The 5 eyed Dzi is considered a magical item and is highly sought after. It assists one in obtaining whatever one desires, so it is a very desired bead. Endless happiness.
6. The 6 eyed Dzi eliminates sadness and sufferings in life, and increases access to good luck.
7. The 7 eyed Dzi helps one to Achieve Fame, Glory, Perfection, Career, Wealth, Relationship, and Health & Longevity.
8. The 8 eyed Dzi helps to guard against calamities and catastrophes. Assists the owner in finding and staying on their proper path.
9. The 9 eyed Dzi bead assists its owner to Gather Wealth, Achieve Good Health, Success, Gain Power, Compassion, Glory, and Expelling Evil & Acts as a Protector.
10. The 10 eyed Dzi removes obstacles in the road of career development, gains favorable comments on you from others, and omens a happy relationship with your spouse.
11. The 11 eyed Dzi helps to eradicate evil intentions and reduces craving, leading to a peace of the heart and mind.
12. The 12 eyed Dzi empowers one with the ability to surpass expectations and attain fame and recognition.
13. The 13 eyed Dzi allows one to learn to communicate with the ancestors as well as other dimensions and realities.
14. The 14 eyed Dzi helps to protect the mind from clutter and help with kharma issues.
15. The 15 eyed Dzi increases the wearer's wisdom, releases human suffering and brings forth general good fortune in human life.
16. The 16 eyed Dzi Brings back the humor in life. Reminds one that it is through play and joy that all things may be obtained. Helps to repel sadness, depression, melancholy, sorrowfulness, and the blues.
17. The 17 eyed Dzi can assist to improve the self image. It allows others to see you the way you see yourself in your unconscious mind. It protects owner from the images of others.
18. The 18 eyed Dzi can help to protect against obsessions and compulsions. Helps to protect against addictive personality traits. Alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual addiction, gambling and all other addictions.
19. The 19 eyed Dzi enhances the owner's ability to manifest and materialize the necessary things in one's life.
20. The 20 eyed Dzi assists in purification. This Dzi can enhance owner's process of preparation for ending the cycle of rebirth. It is very rare.
21. The 21 eyed Dzi enhances your magic power, realizes what you desire to the maximum extent. I magnifies all the characteristics of the other beads and focuses them into one stone.
There is a specific process for cleansing your stone. For those interested, I can email you privately. Om.
